Method of making substructures for buildings.



' PATENTBD JAN. 13, "11903.

I. M. BWBN. METHOD 0F MAKING SUBSIRUG'IURES FOR BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1902.

HQ MODEL.

PATENTED'JAN- 13, J. M. EWEN. METHOD OPV MAKING SUBSTRUGTURBS FDR BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

.N MODEL.

. ci y z No. 718,441. PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

i J. M. EWEN. A v

METHOD 0F MAKING SUBSTRUGTURES FOR BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1902. N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

\ X KN.

.i Nm-718,441. -PATBNTED JAN. 13, 1903.

I.j NI. EWBN. I METHOD 0F MAKING SUBSTRUGTURBS POB. BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1902.

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' H0 MODEL.

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the building.

" ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. EWEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF MAKING SUBSTRUCTURIES FOR BUILDINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,441, dated January 13, 1903. Application led November 21, 1902.` Serial No. 132,194. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,..IOHN M. EWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Processes of Making Substrnctures for Buildings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a process of making or producing the substructures of buildings and the like. In the ordinary methods of constructing buildings the excavation is first made to the desired depth. Some kind of temporary retaining structure is put in position about the 4place where the excavating is going on. Obviously this involves great difficulty and danger, and if the buildings surrounding the place to be excavated are heavy or if the excavation is deep injury and accident are certain to take place, and the cost and delay involved in proceeding in this manner are certain to be great.i When the excavation is completed, the foundations are laid both for the retainingwalls to hold up the surrounding property and for the columns and the like which are to receive the weight of the building to be erectedabove. The increase in value of real estate is such that there is a strong tendency to build not only basements, but subbasements to a depth of several stories, so to speak. According to the old method when the excavation has been completed the foundations are laid and then the structure begins to rise story by story from the bottom until it reaches the streetlevel. In other words, the process of erecting the substructure is exactly the same as the process of erecting the upper portion of I use the earth which forms, so to speak, thecore within the retaining- Wall of the substructure to support and sustain the various pressures as the work progresses. I have shown diagrammatically, as it were, the application of my process in the drawings, wherein- Figure l is a vertical section showing the work of producing a portion of the substructure partially completed. Fig. 2 is a similar view wherein the work has progressed farther. Fig. 3 is a similar View of the completed Work. Fig. 4 is' a horizontal section showing the work in various stages of progress at different points. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section of the exterior retaining-wall complete.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters in all igures.

A A are the beams and columns of the originalbuilding; A,the ioor; AZ-,the columnfoundations; A3, the curb-wall, (shownin dotted lines,) and A5 the sidewalk. (Shown in dotted lines.)

A( is the basement-space.

The first step which I take in applying my invention is to remove the curb-wall and, perhaps, the sidewalk, though the latter may be shored up and held in position in any desired manner when its supporting curb-wall is about to be removed. I now in lieu of such curb-wall erect a support B, which I hold in position by'means of the ystruts B B. The

work to this point is ofthe usual type. I begin to dig a trench along the line where the exteriorretaining-Wallis to be placed. This trench I indicate by the letter C. Asthe excavation of this trench proceeds I place upon each side of its walls `heavy retaining-planks C C2 and hold them in proper position by means of a series of jack-screws C3. The retaining-boards may be of any length, size, or shape. The number of jack-screws will be varied. When the first one has been placed in position, I make another excavation-say one foot deepin said trench and place another set of boards with the proper number of j ack-screws. Thus I continue the work until the trench is dug the desired depth. I now place in the bottom of this trench a ,footing C4, preferably of concrete. It Will be understood that as much or as little as may be convenient of such trench may be dug out at one time, or the entire trench all the Way around the proposed building-site may be simultaneously excavated. I now place permanent I-beams C5 vertically in the trench, putting them along at proper intervals, as indicated in Fig. 4, and preferably between the jack-screws C3. With each of these I-,beamsI associate a series of short j ack-screws C-one on each side of the beam and bearing, respectively, against the boards C and C2. As this work is carried forward it is obvious that the jack-screws ICO C3 can be removed, as indicated in Fig. 4. The connection at the corner maybe made in various ways. I have illustrated one form.

D is the short board placed diagonally across the corner; D', a block on which rests the longer jack-screw D2, the other end of which rests upon the cross-block D3 in the exterior corner of the trench. Obviously up to this point the conditions of stress and pressure between the earth' exterior to the proposed building and the core of earth on the site of the building are practically undisturbed and whatever weight there was on the exterioras, for example, the Weight of some building-is properly sustained against the core of earth within the buildingsite. The pressure is taken up by the jack-screws and then by the shorter jack-screws, which act through the vertically-arranged I-beams. The'space between the I-beams is now filled with concrete E in any desired manner, so as to form au exterior retaining-Wall of steel and concrete, and this wall may surround the entire building-site.

I now proceed to make the excavation for the columns. This I do by boring through the earth and retaining the earth in any desired manner-as, for example, by means of the rings F F. These rings may be associated with vertical stays or utilized in any manner to hold the earth against the pressure which may be applied to it from any source. This Work is carried down to preferably the solid rock or until at least a proper foundation is obtained. The bottom of this hole is then properly filled with concrete F', and the column-footing F2 is placed in position. A column F3 is noW inserted in this hole within the rings, and it is supported upon the concrete F' and the footing F2 in proper manner. In cases where, as here illustrated, the substructure is two or three or more stories in depth the column must be properly supported or stayed, because it is intended to or may carry a considerable load before the excavation is made, as hereinafter explained. This I do by throwing out from the column at suitable intervals supports against the inner walls of the rings. These supports may be short jack-screws F4 F4, and they may be arranged as frequently as desired, but should be placed in proximity to the horizontal line of each proposed cross-beam, so as to give the column suitable strength against any tendency which it might develop to buckle under a load. Having proceeded thus far, it will be possible to begin the upper structure, and this is done by forming the first horizontal Hoor-support. This is done by putting in position the I-beams G G' G2 and the like and suitably attaching them to the upper end of the exterior vertical I-beams C5 and to the columns. Obviously prior to this action the columns and beams A, ioor A', and footing A2 of the old building will have been removed. A little further excavating will uncover one or two of the upper boards C', and the second layer of licor-supports are now put in-for example, beams G3 G4 G5-and they are properly attached to the respective columns and to the exterior re taining-Wall. These beams Will form the floor of the basement. The earth for the subbasement may now be removed, the parts being sufliciently supported by the beams, columns, and retaining-walls, which are bolted together. Of course in this process the upper boards C', with the inner short jackscrews C5, will be removed. This process of excavating will continue until the Hoor-line of the subbasement is reached, when the supports for such subbasementfloor will be placed in position. These beams are indicated by G6 G7 G8. They are in like manner bolted to the exterior walls and the columns. In the same manner the cellar excavation is made, and the door of the cellar G9 can then be placed in position. Thus there Will be constructed Within the retaining-wall, but securely supporting the same by reason of the lateral beams, a steel structure which will constitute the substructure of the building,1 and which will be entirely surrounded, if this be desired, by a retaining-Wall of steel and concrete. This retaining-Wall Will be coated on the inside in any desired manner by cement or the like at J. Its exterior is also properly coated at J and then, if desired, is further covered by layers of asphalt J2. The short jack-screws on that side are then removed one by one, and the space between the boards C2 and the retaining-wall is filled up with crushed stone J3 or suitable filling material. Of course the boards C' and C2 will be taken out during4 the process and the struts B will be removed at the proper time. When the whole process has been completed and the entire structure has been finished, it will be found that there is an exterior Wall of vertical I-beams and concrete around the building-site and that it is securely attached to and forms part of the structure of the building. This retaining- Wall is held in position by the cross-beams and may present a vertical interior face, as indicated, if desired. It may thus be said that the exterior pressure on one Wall is balanced, as it were, by the exterior pressure on the opposite wall by means of the beams C3 O4, &c. The sidewalk K Will be properly supported upon the beams G, and the pavement K' will be extended out over the vertical layer of crushed stone or filling material up to the sidewalk. In the lower part of this crushed stone or filling material is preferably placed the drain-tile K2., which is connected with the intake K3 and whence the water which may accum ulate in such drain-tile may be carried off in any desired manner. It is obvious that this substructure may be carried downward to any desired depth and that itis a perfectly safe method, because the inner core of earth carries the same load or sustains the same pressure at all times during the process IIO of the work except as to certain minute areas which are exposed from time to time as the jack-screws are moved. This, however, is a negligible danger, and if there is any shifting of position the new jack-screw placed in position at or near the point from which the old jack-screw was removed can be operated to restore original conditions. These several jackscrews are used because they present adj ustable features which-permit the work to be adj usted as it progresses, and in theoperation of a large building would be constantly attended and operated so as to keep the condition substantially uniform.

As previously suggested,my process is used in gradually sinking or excavating a trench where the retaining-wall is to be placed and simultaneously supporting the earth to be held up by the retaining-wall against the earth within the retaining-wall by means of the removable and adjustable jacks. As the trench is deepened the supporting devices are supplied until the full depth of the excavation is reached. I now proceed to construct or erecty the retaining-wall, and its several members while in process of being assembled serve as intermediaries between the two masses of earth to transmit the pressure from the exterior earth to the interior earth or core, and thus I practically complete the retainingwall. be insufficient to permanently maintain itself against the exterior pressure when the earth core is removed. I therefore construct within the earth core those parts of my substructure which are to take the pressure from above, and while so doing I support the excavations for such column-like parts, so as to keep the core of earth intact, and I also support the columns within such excavations by lateral stays or struts, so as to prevent them from buckling if any considerable weight should be applied to them. I complete the internal framework of the structure by connecting its horizontal portions from column to column and from the columns to the retainingwall, and as this process continues I excavate the core to make room for such laterally-projecting frame members.

To point out the value andthe use of my invention, it is only necessary to suggest that any kind of a retaining-wall can be built according to my process. The wall may be thin, as I have indicated, and of uniform thickness, as I have indicated, and may bea dependent wall, as indicated-that is, a wall which is not self-supporting against external pressure. On the other hand, the wall may be of any desired thickness and of variable thickness and may bev made of any desired materials and may be a self-supporting retaining-wall of the ordinary type or pattern, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top.

It is obvious that, as previously suggested, the superstructure may be erected on the columns before the substructure is completed, and even, if desired, long before the excava- Such a retaining-wall would obviously' tion is completedthat is, the excavating can take place at any time and under any desired conditions. On the other hand, it is equally obvious that these retaining-walls and theremainder of the substructure can be erected under a completed building. Thus by the use of my process it is entirely feasible to erect under a standing building which is to be preserved a new retaining-wall and a new substructure, and lthis may be done at any time and without disturbing the occupants of the building above. One advantage in working under an old building in position or erecting the substructure iirst is that the 'excavating can then be more conveniently carried on, because of the protection furnished by the superstructure and because of the ease with which the hoisting and other working structure. Of course the wall may be wholly or partially completed at any time, and in some instances it may be desirable to have only a portion of a retaining-wallcomplete according to my system, though when the system is fully applied there should be a retaining-wall entirely around the area above which the building is to be erected. I have used the terms inside and outside and other like terms in their ordinary senses and I have used the word core as applied to the earth within the retaining-wall, and whether the wall be completed or not it refers to some or all of the earth which liesl under the building to be erected and which receives the external lateral pressure, as described. It will 'be observed that, -as above suggested, this Imethod provides for ample security and gmakes the work thoroughly safe from lia- Qbility of injury to adjoining property. At the same time it is evident that there is a C great saving of time, both because the work can be begun before the old building isdestroyed or its occupants disturbed and because in a sense the builder can build in both directions from the licor-level at the same time and because the retaining-wall lhaving been built before the old building is removed it is possible to proceed at once upon the removal of the old building to the erection of the foundation for the vvertical members which are to sustain the superstructure.

I have shown the application of my process wherein the wall is placed midway between the two trench linings, though of course for certain purposes it might be placed at one side, and it might be placed against the inner lining, thus leaving room between the wall and the outer lining for the further carrying out of the process. In my description and claims I have necessarily recited the several steps in succession,

most part is obvious that the precise order of the several steps might be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention and that somevof the steps recited successively might be carried on simultaneously.

although it will be understood and for the` apparatus can be attached to such super- IOO ro5 n IIO I claiml. The process of making and placing in position substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior wall is to be erected, and simultaneously placing in position a lining for said trench, from the top downward, as the work of forming the trench progresses, then placing braces between the two linings, so as to transmit the exterior pressure to the core of earth within such proposed wall, and then erecting within the trench a. wallof less thickness than the width of the trench.

2. The process of making and placing in position substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior wall is to be erected, and simultaneously placing in position a lining for said trench, from the top downward, as the work of forming the trench progresses, then placing braces between the two linings, so as to transmit the exterior pressure to the core of earth within such proposed Wall, then erecting within the trench a wall of less thickness than the width of the trench, and as the wall progresses, substituting for the braces between the two linings braces between one of the linings and the wall.

3. The process of making and placing in position substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior wall is to be erected, and simultaneously placing in position a lining for said trench, from the top downward, as the work of forming the trench progresses, then placing braces between the two linings, so as to transmit the exterior pressure to the core of earth within such proposed wall, then erecting within the trench a wall of less thickness than the width of the trench, then finishing such wall on one of its surfaces opposed to the trench-surface so as to make it as nearly as possible impervious to moisture.

4. The process of making and placing in position a substructure for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior wall is to be erected, and simultaneously placing in position a lining for said trench, from the top downward, as the work of forming the trench progresses, then placing braces between the two linings, so as t0 transmit the exterior pressure to the core of earth within such proposed wall, then erecting within the trench a wall of less thickness than the width of the trench, then iilling in between the exterior surface of the wall and the opposed surface of the trench, and at the same time removing the braces.

5. The process of making and placingin position substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior wall is to be erected, and simultaneously placing in position a lining for said trench, from the top downward,

as the work of forming the'trench progresses, then placing braces between the two linings, so as to transmit the exterior pressure to the core of earth within such proposed wall, then erecting within the trench a wall of less thickness than the width of the trench, then simultaneously removing the braces and lining and filling in with permanent material between the exterior surface of the wall and the opposed surface of the trench.

6. The process of making and placing in position substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior wall is to be erected, and simultaneously placing in position a lining for said trench, from the top downward, as the work of forming the trench progresses, then placing braces between the two linings, so as to transmit the exterior pressure to the core of earth within such proposed wall, then erecting within the trench a wall of less thickness than the width of the trench, and as the wall progresses, substituting for the braces between the two linings braces between one 0f the linings and the wall, then finishing the exterior surface of such wall to make it as nearly as possible impervious to moisture, and filling in between such surface and the opposed trench-surface with permanent material, and removing the braces and lining from the bottom up.

7. The process of making and placing in position substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior wall is to be erected, and simultaneously placing in position a lining for said trench, from the top downward, as the work of forming the trench progresses, then placing braces between the two linings, so as to transmit the exterior pressure to the core of earth within such proposed wall, then erecting Within the trench and free from the lining, wall members, and substituting for the braces between the linings braces between such wall members and the lining, and then completing the wall in connection with such wall members.

8. The process of making and placing in position substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior wall is to be erected, and simultaneously placing in position a lining for said trench, from the top downward, as the work of forming the trench progresses, then placing braces between the two linings, so as to transmit the exterior pressure to the core of earth within such proposed wall, then erecting within the trench a wall of less thickness than the width ofthe trench, then inserting between such wall and the surface of the trench means for transmitting the exterior pressure to such wall, and then inserting between two such Walls or wall portions braces which connect them so that the exterior pressure on one wall is balanced by the exterior pressure on the other wall.

9. The process of makin gand placing in po- IOO IIO

sition substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior Wall is to be erected, erecting a Wall in said trench so as to transmit the exterior pressure through said Wall to the core of earth on the opposite side of the wall, then providing on the opposite side of said core of earth a Wall which receives the pressure exterior to it, then simultaneously removing the core of earth and substituting therefor cross-braces Which connect said Walls and balance the exterior pressure against one of them with the exterior pressure against the other.- Y

10. The process of making and placing in position substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench Where the exterior wall is to be erected, and simultaneously placing in position a lining for said trench, from the top downward, as the Work of forming the trench progresses, then placing braces between the tWo linings, so as to transmit the exterior pressure to the core of earth Within such proposed Wall, then erecting Within the trench a wall, then substituting for the core of earth Within such proposed Wall suitable permanent braces to take the exterior pressure transmitted through the Wall.

1l. The process of making and placing in position substructures for buildings and the like which consists iny erecting the exterior Wall of the substructure and associating therewith throughout the process of construction means for transmitting the external pressure to the core of earth within the proposed Wall, such means operating through the completed Wall, then simultaneously removing the core and replacing it with crossbraces to receive the pressure theretofore received by such core.

l2. The process of making and placing in position substructures for buildings and the like, which consists in forming a suitable trench where the exterior wall is to be located, supporting the external pressure on the outside of such trench against the core of earth on the opposite side of the trench, and thenerecting in the trench a retaining-Wall free from the side surface of the trench, and supporting the external pressure on the core of earth through such retaining-Wallas a transmitting medium.

JOHN M. EWEN.

Witnesses:

HoMnR S. KRAFT, FANNY B. FAY. 

